Sri Lanka’s Cricket Hilarity

Talking to Dom and Asanka on the ‘Fix’ on Monday morning, I think I described our win against India as a ‘flash in the pan’ and anticipated that things will be ‘business as usual’ pretty soon. Despite the horror of my own cliches, I realise that cliches are all that can be used to describe what has turned out to be a hackneyed modus operandi by Sri Lankans, both in the SLC jumpers, and not.

I only watched the India game when we were nicely poised and the place I happened to go to for dinner, had the cricket on. It was a pleasant surprise and a good come back for Mathews. Watching this team otherwise, is rarely worth the investment. Later we found out that this atypical performance was galvanised by some uncharitable words from Virender Sehwag. Hardly the motivation that professional sportspeople should aim for, but whatever works right? Fortunately, I was working for most of the Pakistan game, but didn’t anticipate it going any better than it did. Sri Lanka’s weaknesses against fast bowling have been well documented. And Pakistan, with their battery of left-armers, debutantes and match-fixers gave the Sri Lankan middle order some real trouble. Some batsmen got out to excellent deliveries and a few others to bad shot selection, forced by good bowling.

I have little grouse with the batsmen. Sometimes – especially when you’re playing Pakistan – the opposition just bowls really well. Dickwella needed to go on, and he and Mathews should probably have been a little bit more switched on.

The real grouse is with the fielding side. The complete lack of effort is now, finally, obvious to everyone. A few of us journos have been banging on about the fielding for years now. It reflects the state of the dressing room. Regardless, of your batting talent and bowling resources, most teams should be pretty even on the fielding charts. True enough, you sometimes have some exceptional fielders like Jonty Rhodes or Ricky Ponting. That is fabulous. But by and large any athlete – for that is what professional sportsmen should be – in the international arena, possessing the hand-eye coordination cricket requires, should be able to feckin’ field. Especially in the modern game, where skills have advanced so much, you should not be allowed anywhere near an elite team unless you can field competently. Not exceptionally, just competently.

Sarfraz’s incredible inside-edge catch off Dickwella, changed the game in Pakistan’s favour. Thisara Perera’s simple catch could have changed the game in Sri Lanka’s favour. It was one of many drops on the night, all of which were unacceptable from international cricketers. What has riled people up mostly, is that the incompetence is now blatant. It is not limited to a few players on the team, it is a pandemic level malaise that infests the entire side.

Lasith Malinga can’t field anymore. But he still bowls his heart out and is still, one leg, pot-belly, lion’s mane and everything, still one of the best exponents of his craft in the world. None of the other Sri Lankan cricketers – with the occasional exception of Mathews – can lay claim to that kind of reputation. Fans and analysts are likely to cut players of that quality, some slack. Nobody would have complained if Shane Warne refused to field at fine leg. Because he took blinders at slip. But if you’re not Shane Warne, you jolly well field where you’re asked to, and do it well. Not long ago an ageing Mahela Jaywardena had to be employed in the outfield because he, at 35, had more pace and a better arm than most players on the team. That is not acceptable. Nobody expected this team to go out and win. They did expect them to look like they were trying though.

It is for this reason that Chandimal and Perera have copped the flak. Understandably so. Chandimal should have realised that Sophia Gardens was not the flat batting track the Oval was. He barely got a knock at the Oval in any case, and then flailed expansively at the second ball he faced. There is something to be said for playing your natural game, but there is more to be said for circumspection and respecting the conditions and the bowler. You need to earn your right to dominate the opposition and unfortunately, talent is not enough of a wage to buy that right.

It is this kind of brain freeze, and lack of application, from highly paid professionals that is beginning to upset Sri Lankans islandwide. The memes and vitriol have been hilarious and scathing. Some do-gooders have called for ‘those who have never dropped a cricket ball to cast the first cherry’, but that kind of Biblical forgiveness is not the remit of cricket fans. From the perspective of Sri Lankans who see their politicians fiddling while Ratnapura floods, seeing the highest paid professionals in the country arsing about, clearly unqualified for their roles, is a legitimate source of chagrin.

Some ex-cricketers have rushed to the aid of their buddies on social media, asking us to applaud the effort of a team that ‘gave everything’ and ‘sacrificed so much’ to get where they are. Bollocks, mate. Speak about sacrificing time with their families to soldiers fighting a war. Speak about giving everything, to the mother who works a full day and has to get squashed on a train back home to feed and nurture her children on a measly stipend. Don’t ask those Sri Lankans and many others on the spectrum of every day struggle, to believe that showing up for cricket practice is an inconvenience on any level. Dedicated sports people sacrifice a lot. No doubt. But their rewards are also great. It doesn’t take an avid sports fan to take one look at Rafael Nadal and Thisara Perera and discern which one makes more sacrifices and gives more.

For the Sri Lankan cricketers of late, their rewards are relatively great without any manifest effort. It is reasonable therefore, for the average fan to ask how – if they are ‘sacrificing so much’ – did they acquire those pot bellies? How, did they become so inept at one of cricket’s most basic skills, i.e. – catching dollies. It doesn’t add up.

Yes, it’s cold. But it’s 19 degrees. Not 5 degrees. Making an effort in the field will keep you warm. Deal with it, or don’t tour abroad. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan all come from the tropics and they all made the semi-finals.

This particular team is a reflection of everything that’s wrong with this country. It is inconsistent and mediocre. It finds excuses and refuses to accept responsibility. Leadership is under constant threat, and communication – judging by the amount of run outs – is not optimal. Some guys try valiantly hard, some guys are good at what they do, but one or two morons spectacularly cock up everything for everyone.Whether it’s the parliament, an international cricket match, or being stuck in traffic, that seems to be how the story unfolds.

Hold people accountable. Put them under pressure. Fashion credible alternatives. Call for heads to role. Things will improve.

Don’t accept any old crap coming your way. Take pride in what you do, and hold professionals to the standards you’d like to see. It’s a long process. And our cricket team holds a mirror up to all of us. You don’t want to be the metaphorical Thisara Perera, do you?